Combined handle and brush wiper for paint cans



Oct. 23, 1951 J. D. BRENNAN 2,572,694

COMBINED HANDLE AND BRUSH WIPER FOR PAINT CANS Filed Oct. 16, 1948 I NVEN TOR. JAMES E BRENNAN BYQ :1

ATTORNEY l a tenteci Oct. 23, 1951 OFFICE COMBINED HANDLE AND BRUSHWIPER FOR PAINT CANS James D. Brennan, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application October 16, 1948, Serial No. 54,891

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hand tools andhas particular relation to a tool comprising a wire can holder, lidlifter and brush wiper.

An object of the invention is to provide a tool of the kind indicatedand formed of a single piece of wire and which is simple and inexpensiveto make and which is useful for prying off the lids of cans, as a handleor holder for cans, and as a brush wiper for paint cans and the like.

Another object is to provide a tool as indicated and which is easilyapplied to and removed from a can and which is applicable to cans ofslightly different sizes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includesall such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

--' In the drawing: 1

- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a tool made in accordance with theinvention;

a Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof, the view being taken as looking from theright in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the tool as applied to a can to form aholder or handle for the can and a brush wiper; and.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the mm in such use, the viewbeing taken as looking from the lower side of Fig. 4.

Referring in'detail to the drawing, the improved tool generallydesignated I0 is shown as formed from a single length of relativelystiff wire bent upon itself intermediate its ends to provide a handlegenerally designated H and which is substantially U-shaped including abight portion l2 and a pair of parallel or substantially parallel arms13 and I4 located substantially in the same plane. At its forward end,arm I3 is curved downwardly and rearwardly providing a bight portion 15which is generally at right. angles to the plane in which the arms 13and H are located. I Thereafter, the Wire of the arm l3 iscarriedrearwa'rdly as at I6 and is again bent at l! to provide a transverselyextending portion [8 arranged below the plane of the arms of the-handleII and at right angles to said. arms and, in fact, extending from aposition beginning below the forward portion of the arm I3 to a positionlaterally outwardly of the arm [4. The free end of the extension l8isiflattened as at l9 providing a lid lifter. It is noted that the flatI9 is in a plane normal to the plane of the handle I I.

When the tool is used as a lid lifter the flat I9 is forced under theflange of a can lid and at such time the general position of the toolwill be such that its longitudinal axis is approximately parallel withthe longitudinal axis of the can. Then on a partial rotation of thetool, or an attempt to rotate the tool with the fiat l9 as a fulcrumpoint, the lid (of the friction type) is pried from a can.

The arm [A of handle .ll projects. forwardly substantially beyond thebight I5 above described to complete the can holder and to providev abrush wiper when the tool is in position on a can. As probably bestshown in Figs. 1 and 4, the wire constituting the arm I4 of the handleis bent slightly at 20 and then extends forwardly and laterally anddownwardly at 2l. Here it is noted that this portion 2! comprises abrush wiper when the tool is attached to a can. The extreme forward endof the arm I4 is preferably slightly curved providing a curved free endportion 22 which is relatively stiff and yet has a certain resilience. 5

It is planned that the tool ll be of very simple and inexpensiveconstruction whereby it may be sold at a very low price or even given toa.- customer purchasing a can of paint or the like. For the purpose ofidentification, or where the device is used as an advertising medium, aportion of one arm of the handle may carry some identifying data. Thus,in the drawing, a mid portion of the arm I3 of'handle II isflattened asat 23 and such flattened portion may carry a name or trade-mark or thelike. Obviously, such identifyin material may be applied to the tool inother recognized ways.

The present tool is particularly designed for use by a householder whenworking with a small can of paint. Paint in small quantities, such aspints, quarts and even smaller quantities,'is sold in cans not equippedwith handles of any type. Such cans are of a rather standardconstruction and a portion of one such can is indicated at 24 in Figs. 4and 5. The can there shown is of pint size and includes a circular wall25 at its upper end equipped with an internal flange26' immediatelyabout the edges of thewall and which flange is provided with, the usualchannel or groove 21 for the reception of a flange portion of a frictiontype cover or lid (not shown) com V mon in the art.

Above, the use of the lid lifter feature of the present invention wasdescribed but here it is again noted that when the flat I9 is forcedunder the flange of a friction lid or cover, the handle of the tool isthen available as a lever for twisting or rotating the tool so as to pryup such lid or cover. The cover beingremoved, the tool s pplied to thecan as shown in Figs, 4 and 5.

In applying the tool, assuming the can to be disposed on a horizontalsurface or otherwise supported with its open side upwardly, thehouseholder inserts the long arm, comprising portions 2| and 22, of thetool into the containerthe tool being held at a relatively steep angle,Then the bight [5 of the tool is hooked over the inner edge of theflange 26 of the can. This also brings the arm I8 of the toolsubstantially under such flange and then the user or householder rocksdownwardly on the. handle. This brings the curved end portion 22 of thelong arm of the tool a ainst th inn s rfac f h o p te p n of the wall 25ofthe can and at the endof the rockingmovement such curved portion willbe under a portion of the flange 26 generally at the opposite side ofthe can from that under which t e am; H? of th tool s ated.

the brush wiper portion 2| of the tool diverges laterally and downwardlyfrom the inner end of the handle arm !4 the curved portion 22 i l otbe.direo ly opposi e he h n le b l be laterally of set with respect to it.This keeps the brush wiper portion 2| laterally of the center ofthe. canso as not to Joe. in e ay of a brush eing dipped in n removed from t eon en of the-can,v The curve 22, as above explained, is s l et some hat.esilient havi g been. fo ced into th position describedand contactingthe inner su fa e of the an wall as at 28c u es the bight l5 to beforced against an inner edge of the flange 25. Portion 22 beingresilient as described, it will be seen that it may yield more or l anthu ee ommodate he ol t cans of; slightly diireren i es.

In addition to the engagement at 28 and ensee mentofthe big-ht. l 5 withan inner edge portion of flange 26, the curved portion 22 is tightagainst the underside of aportion of the flange t Fi and th nnerportions of the ham dle arms li and Mare, against the outer edge of theflange 26 across the can from such described point of engagement 2 8;Thus, the tool is rigidly a plied to th can, a may b us d a ah e. r h ldr for arryi h can ab t Ad i ona 4v, when the ousehold r d ps his. b shnt h co tents 9f. the. can h may W p h cess P t. varnish rthe. li e frm-the brush. on. e brush. wiper? provided. by th pre ent too n suchexcess paint thus. w p d. falls bac into the can and will have. notendency to, by gravity or capillaryaction, move outv of the. can. Infactrortion 21; being inclined downwardly, the gravitational tendency.of the paint or the like. wiped on such portion will be. back into thecan even though it flows along the portion 2| until it engages thefiang-e26. Thus, with the present tool, the householder has a convenientmeans for moving or handling or carrying thepaint can from place toplace and he also has a means which saves him from wiping the dippedbrushagainst the flange 26. This latter practice usually results inchannel 21 becoming filled or partly filled with paint, varnish or thelike, the latter then spilling over onto the sides of the can.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a tool of the character described, a single length of wire bentupon itself intermediate its ends to provide a U-shaped handle includinga pair of spaced horizontally aligned arms and a horizontal bightportion, one of. said. arms at its forward end bent downwardly, thenrearwardly providing a hook portion to extend about the rim pt a can,said arm then again bent and extending laterally toward the other arm ina plane below thelatter to engagespaced portions of the underside of acan rim over which said hook has been engaged, and the other of saidarms continued forwardly beyond the forward end of the first mentionedarm; to span the can and engage the underside of a rim portion of thecan at the side of the can opposite that engaged by said hook, and thefree end of said other arm curved to follow the inner contour of saidother side of. the can.

2. In a tool of the character described, a single length of wire bentupon itself intermediate its ends to provide a U-shapedhandle includinga 2 pair of spaced horizontally aligned arms and 8- horizontal bightportion, one of said arms. at ts forward end bent downwardly, thenrear-wardly providing a hook portion to extend about therirn of a can,said arm then again bent.v and extend--- ing laterally toward the otherarm i-e Plane below the latterto engage spaced portions .of theunderside of a .can rim over which saidjhoohhas been engaged, the otherof said arms, centinued forwardly beyond the forward end of the firstmentioned arm to. span said. can and. engage the underside of a rimportion of the can. at the side of the can opposite that eng ed by said1 0 3. and said other arm also bent to extend laterally wherebynot. to.extendecmss the center of the can.

3. In a tool of the charaster described,- a single length of wire. bent.up n i e hi ermedia e its. ends t pr a. u-shanedxhandle incl ding a.pair of spaced horizontally aligned arms. and a horizontal bight.portion, one .of said, arms at its forward end bent downwardly, then,rearwardly providing. a hook portiontdextend about the im ofa can, saidarm then a ain bent and extending laterally toward. the. other arm-inplane below the latterto. engage snaeecicportions or the underside of acan rim overwkuch. saidhookehas. n n aged, andutheother of said arms.con: tinued forwardly beyondthefcrwerd end oi the first m ntion d arm-tospan the can and en age the underside of a rim portion of; thgeanfiatthe side or'the. canropn site that. enga edy said hook.

JAMESD BRENNAN-.

EFER NCES ITE The following references are of record in'thefile ofthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 3. %39 Peters g .-..-c.Nov-..12,1.997 1 22,245. ei e t a Ap 4191.2 1,039,261 Cornwell septum, 1912,.1,693 772. Alle v.- De $19 1,700,57 Hoebe s, 29,1923 2,167,217 Milliganul 25;;19 2,284,452; Simons ,f May 26, 1942 2,320,262 Gampbell- May25,1943 2,487,990 Soens Nov. 15-, 1 949 2,532,895 Day Dec. 5,1950

